New Pokémon DS details

By Ellie Gibson Published 14 June, 2006

Diamond and Pearl unveiled.

Some new snippets of info regarding DS titles Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl have emerged.

According to an article in Japanese magazine Coro Coro, partially translated by Serebii.net, the action takes place in the region of Shinou, which is based on the real life island of Hokkaido. As in Pokémon Gold/Silver, the time of day will change as you play, but this time it'll go from morning to noon to afternoon, evening and night-time.

You'll be guided by a brand new character called Professor Nanakamado, and Manaphy will return with a new move, Heart Swap, which swaps status effects amongst all the Pokémon on the playing field.

You'll get a new gadget to play with - a watch type thing called a Pokétchi, which you can use not only to tell the time but to monitor how your Pokémon are doing in the breeding centre, amongst an estimated 20 other things.

The new Shindou Pokédex will appear on both of the DS's screens, and includes a weight comparison feature. You can input your own height and weight to see how you match up to your Pokémon.

There are both male and female Pokémon to collect - you can tell the difference between them because they'll have different markings or have different sized features.

And, as previously announced, you'll be able to take Diamond and Pearl online and use your DS as a controller for forthcoming Wii title, Pokémon Battle Revolution.

Coro Coro gives a Japanese release date for Pokémon Diamond and Pearl of September 26th - so with a bit of luck, it could be out here in time for Christmas.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (25) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • myiagros #1 6 years ago

    There are both male and female Pokémon to collect - you can tell the difference between them because they'll have different markings or have different sized features.

    yeah i bet they do ;)

  • Cyclone #2 6 years ago

    lol @ myiagros

  • Kami #3 6 years ago

    Have to say, I do quite like the idea of this new Pokemon... I've been waiting for something to go almost right back to Gold/Silver (In my mind, the better Pokemon titles of them all) and just try and advance on those ideas. They had all that potential with the GBA and seemingly wasted it, instead trying to milk the franchise.

    Here's hoping for the best Pokemon game yet. With the DS, they've certainly got the potential to make it a right corker...

  • #4 6 years ago

    lol that was funny myiagros

  • Zero Beat #5 6 years ago

    Can Pokémon have manbreasts?

  • jlaakso #6 6 years ago

    Sizeable features or not, I am quite looking forward to this. Sounds like innovation is a little limited, though. Pokémon, at least in its GBA form, is the perfect game to while away idle waiting time on the go.

  • York #7 6 years ago

    Not that much innovation, really.

  • arena08 #8 6 years ago

    cant wait! :D

  • myiagros #9 6 years ago

    thanks for the laughs, glad others find my infantile humour amusing.

    \\goes back to thinking dirty thoughts about pokemon in the shadows
    Edited by 1 at 14/06/06 @ 14:03

  • Steroyd #10 6 years ago

    as previously announced, you'll be able to take Diamond and Pearl online and use your DS as a controller for forthcoming Wii title, Pokémon Battle Revolution.

    it's been bugging me for ages, but why can't Nintendo do a Gameboy version of Pokemon on the N64, Gamecube or Wii it's getting really annoying being shoehorned a cheap 3D Battle stadium version of Pokemon for consoles. /shakes fist

  • ProtoformX #11 6 years ago

    The only Pokemon games I own are Blue and FireRed and that's because I think the Pokemon in the following games looked a bit crap. However, there's no denying that the Pokemon games are some of the finest handheld games available so I think I'll pick this up to see how the DS handles the franchise. Compatibility with the Wii can only be a good thing as well, to the best of my knowledge.

  • toy_brain #12 6 years ago

    I've never played a 'propper' Pokemon game in my entire life, but I think I'll take the plunge with this one and find out what I've been missing out on.

  • Ryan121 #13 6 years ago

    Looks good :)

  • ElectricDemon #14 6 years ago

    Gah! Two versions again! Why can't they get rid of the stupid idea of needing a friend who owns the game in order to get all the Pokemon?! When I play a game, I want to be able to get everything in it WITHOUT needing someone with another copy!

  • thelastslice #15 6 years ago

    Meh... until they make a MAJOR improvement on the battle system, I don't think I'll play anymore Pokemon games.

  • Daryoon #16 6 years ago

    How can they drastically alter the battle system without breaking the balance they've built up over the past 10 years?

    Gah! Two versions again! Why can't they get rid of the stupid idea of needing a friend who owns the game in order to get all the Pokemon?!

    Eh, well since it'll be all wi-fi, trading Pokemon is going to be a cinch

  • Mr_Brown #17 6 years ago

    Sounds great! Pokemon series started to get boring for a while. Glad to see the DS one with some great changes. Definate buy for me.

  • PinkSpider #18 6 years ago

    It better look better this time, Pokemon on the GBA was a massive disapointment. Heck it doesent even need to look much better, but I tile based engine whilst Golden Sun had its free moving and 3D esque battles.

    Subpar.

  • Nikanoru #19 6 years ago

    it's been bugging me for ages, but why can't Nintendo do a Gameboy version of Pokemon on the N64, Gamecube or Wii it's getting really annoying being shoehorned a cheap 3D Battle stadium version of Pokemon for consoles. /shakes fist

    You're talking about a fullblown large scale 3D Pokemon RPG with slightly dark TP-style edge? I am absolutely sure Nintendo are aware of the ungodly numbers that would sell.

    So why don't they make it? I think they're saving it. In case they really get in trouble. The fact that they haven't made it yet just goes to show they have never actually had any real problems.

    Well, that's my vague theory at least.

  • Daryoon #20 6 years ago

    but a tile based engine whilst Golden Sun had its free moving and 3D esque battles.

    GS also had about 10 enemies who were just pallette swapped throughout the game, as is normal for RPGs. For Pokemon they'd need to animate hundreds of different sprites and special attacks - better, quicker and less memory involved if they keep it looking simple.

  • Daikon #21 6 years ago

    @ElectricDemon

    Do you really want to catch EVERY last bloody one of them? ^_^

  • thelastslice #22 6 years ago

    @ Daryoon

    Well, I'm not saying that they should stop Poke-games from being RPG style, but as long as they have evolving handhelds at their dispocal- why not evolve the gameplay. Like maybe add some strategy elements? Not too much, but enough to make it so I'm doing more than just tapping the 'A' button...

  • iguanusgus #23 6 years ago

    i want it, I hate that they announce it one year before and that we remain with the desires of buying it

  • chupachups #24 6 years ago

    >Gah! Two versions again! Why can't they get rid of the stupid idea of needing a friend >who owns the game in order to get all the Pokemon?! When I play a game, I want to >be able to get everything in it WITHOUT needing someone with another copy!

    Because they want to milk Pokemon fans by forcing them to buy two copies. It's the same reason record companies release albums with alternative covers, they know there are fans out there crazy enough to buy all the versions on day one pushing the sales figures up nicely.

  • firefly #25 6 years ago

    "Because they want to milk Pokemon fans by forcing them to buy two copies. It's the same reason record companies release albums with alternative covers, they know there are fans out there crazy enough to buy all the versions on day one pushing the sales figures up nicely."

    Indeed although I believe that there are other things that facilitate that too.
    Ignoring the version exclusive Pokemon there are also all the ones where you have to choose between one or another to contend with, not to mention the fact that the saves take up so much memory that you're only given one file and if you want to play the actual quest again (which is all you can do if you've beaten the story and don't have any friends to battle) you have to give up all the work you've done on the last file.